Push key lock



DeC- 4, 1956 E. J. GARDNER ET AL PUSH KEY LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 51, 1953 m l 5l ne Rmm mJm NBJ f. WMF. v um.. www M a 5 lm" ffm f n 5 5 M m@ 2 H /an f i J l lm- UJ- :l 1J. m Y B @A E F1537 F155 F155 HTTOTNEY Dec. 4, 1956 PUSH KEY LOCK Filed March 31,' 1953 UUU E. J. GARDNER ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8g] J6 so 8] E E 56 INVENTORJ,

Edgarlgardner, Paul. Johnson By & Hlpheus EJTanJel HTTORNE-Y United States Patent O PUSH KEY LOCK Edgar J. Gardner, Glendale, Paul B. Johnson, Los Angeles, and Alpheus F. Stansell, Puente, Calif., asslgnors to Clary Corporation, a corporation of California Application March 31, 1953, Serial No.345,914

6 Claims. (Cl. 70-387) This invention relates to key controlled devices and has particular reference to key controlled locks of the type wherein partial insertion of. a key is effective to release the lock, permitting further insertion of the key to elfect a controlling function such as actuating a latch, closing a switch, etc.

vLocks of the latter type, particularly when designed to accommodate a cylindrical key, elect a considerable saving .in time when the lock must be released often, since they obviate the movements necessary in order to release the usual forms of tumbler type locks, namely, to properly orient the key, insert it in the lock, turn it, and thereafter'turn the same back to oriented position -before withdrawal.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a lock of the foregoing type which is economical to manufacture and assemble.

Another object is to provide a lock of the foregoing type in which the tumblers can iloat in different directions into locking position.

Another object is to provide a lock of the foregoing type in which the key ,is effective to positively move the tumblers from any locking position to unlocked position.

Another object is to provide a lock wherein the tumblers are of uniform peripheral dimension whereby they may be readily interchanged by a person unskilled in the art of locksmithing to` require a different form of key.

Another object is to provide a lock constructed mainly of stamped parts.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cash register to which a lock embodying the present invention, combined with an electric switch, is attached.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the lock attachment removed from the cash register.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the lock and is taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the lock with the key removed and is taken along the lines 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 .is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a cylindrical key inserted therein.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4, .illustrating one lof the tumblers in locking condition.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but is taken along the line .8 8 of Fig. 6, showing one of the tumblers in unlocked condition. v

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the key detenting device and is taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 shows another application of the invention and is a View similar to Fig. 2 but showing a mechanicallinkage operable by the actuator slide in lieurof a switch.

Figs. 11 to 22 illustrate a lock embodying a modified form of the invention.

Vtrated in Fig. 11 and taken substantially` along "ice Fig. l1 is a rear view of the lock. Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view of the lock illusthe line 12-12 of that figure.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevational view taken along thel line V13:-13 of Fig. 12. Y

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 ofFig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to'that of Fig. 13

.but illustrating a key inserted in the lock.

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 16-16 of Fig. 13 and .illustrating one of the tumblers in locking condition.

Y Fig. 17 is a View similar to Fig. 16 but illustrating the tumbler in unlocking condition. s

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view illustrating another of the tumblers in locking condition and is taken along the line 18-18 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 18 illustrating the tumbler in unlocking condition.

Fig. 20 is a transverse sectional View illustrating a third tumbler in locking position and is taken along the v line 20-20 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 21 .is a sectional view similar to Fig. 20 but illustrating the tumbler in unlocking condition.

Fig. 22 is a sectional View of the detenting device and is taken along the line 22-22 of Fig.l5.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, the key controlled lock is generally indicated at 11. The lock is illustrated as attached to a well known Clary motor driven cash register machine, partially illustrated at 12, for enabling' locking of the machine against unauthorized operaton and access. i

Such a cash registering machine is disclosed and claimed in the R. E. Boyden et al. Patent No. 2,607,526 issued August 19, 1952. The lock is arranged to control an electric switch located in the motor control circuit of such cash register machine. However, it .is to be understood that the invention may be equally well applied to other `forms of machines or mechanisms where it is desirable to require the use offa readily insertable key*v in order to preventvpilfering ory unauthorized operationof the machine or mechanism.

The cash register machine 12 includes a drawer, partially illustrated at 13, which is normally held in closed Condition, as illustrated, within a drawer casing or shell 14. The drawer is adapted to be released to move out of the casing into openvcondition upon operation of the machine by an electric motor (not shown). The motor is located in circuit with an electric switch 15 provided in a lock casing 15a housing the lock.

The switch 15 is commercially known and available under the name Microswitch and is disclosed and claimed in the patent to T. K. McGall 1,960,020. This switch includes a control plunger 16 which is spring urged downwardly and when in its raised position Villustrated in Fig. 6 effects closing of switch contacts therein to complete a circuit through the motor or to condition such circuit for operation upon closingof a second switch (not shown). Conversely, lwhen thev plunger 16 is allowed'to moveto its lower position illustrated in Fig. 4, the switch contacts are opened to breakthe motor control'circuit.

The lock casing 15a .is open at one side thereof and is removably attached at this side to the side of the cash A threaded bushing 23 forming a guideway for a cylindrical key is tted in a hole in the lug 22 and is secured thereto by a nut 24. The bushing extends through an opening in the lock casingl a.

An inverted U'-shaped actuatorV slide 25 is tted Within the sides, of the supporting member 2t). The former has depending lugs 26 and 27 extending from opposite ends thereof. The lug 26 has a bearing opening slidably tted over a reduced bearing portion formed on the rear end of the bushing 23. A cylindrical contact piece 28' is securely riveted to the lug 27 of the slide and is slidably tted in a bearing hole formed in the lug 2l of the supporting member, whereby to support the slide for movement in the direction of insertion of a cylindrical key 30.

A camming piece 3.1 is suitably secured to the lug 27 of the slide and is provided with a camming portion engageable with the plunger 16 of the switch whereby to operate the latter.

The: slide 25 is provided with three sets of slots 33 in the side walls 29 and 34 thereof; such slots extending transversely to the direction of movement of the slide. Slidable edgewise in the slots 33are three thin, annular, disc-type tumblers 35.

The slide 25 is normally retracted into its position shown in Figs. 4. and 5 by a tension spring 36 tensioned between the support member 2t) and the slide. When in this position, the slots 33 are located in alignment with respective ones of three transverse slots 37 formed in the intermediate portion of the member 20, permitting the disc tumblers to slide vertically into engagement with such slots 37 and thus lock the actuator slide from movement.

The tumblers are effective to locate within the slots 37 under the action of gravity alone. However, provision is made to provide a spring for this purpose if desired. An elongated slot 33 is formed in the intermediate portion of the slide and a tension spring indicated by the dotted lines 3? (Fig. 6) may be extended along such slot and connected at its ends in holes 40 whereby to press downwardly on all three tumblers.

It will be noted that the tumblers 35 have axially arranged holes therein of differing diameters requiring a key having sectionsv of the proper diameters and special relationships in order to raise all tumblers to permit furrther insertion of the key. The holes are preferably 'chamfered at their forward edges to facilitate entry of the key therein.

Tumblers having dierent diameter holes may be substituted to require differently shaped keys. For example, two of the tumblers may be provided with holes of the same diameter.

As shown in Fig. 6, the key 30 is of a cylindrical form having a main body which will slidably fit in the bore of the bushing 23. Also formed on the forward end of the key are smaller diameter concentric sections 41 and 42 arranged to slidably fit within the holes of the two rear tumblers 35. Conical portions 43 join the concentric portions 41 and 42 as well as the portion 42 and the main body of the key to enable camming of the tumblers into their unlocking position during the rst portion of the insertion of the key. As the tumblers are cammed out of the slots 37 in the support member Ztl during insertion of the key, the tip 44 of the key engages the bottom of a blind hole 45 formed in the contact piece 2S so that further insertion of the key will actuate the slide 25 rearwardly, causing the camming piece 31 to cam the switch plunger 16 upwardly to cause closing of the switch 15. Rearward movement of the slide 25 is limited byV engagement thereof with a bushing 46 surrounding one of the studs 17.

Yieldable detentmeans are provided to hold the key 30 in its innermost switch closing position when so inserted. For this purpose a detent pin 47 is iitted in a transversely extending bearing hole in the bushing 23 and is yieldably pressed inwardly by a tension Aspring 48 connected'at'its ends (Figs. 2 and 5) to hooks 49 extending from the opposite sides of the supporting member Ztl.

As the key 3i) is inserted to its fullest extent in the keyway, the detent pin will snap into a circumferentially arranged groove 50 (Fig. 6) formed on the key, to thereby yieldably hold the keyin inserted position and to maintain the switch 15- closed until the key is subsequently withdrawn.

Fig. l0 illustrates another application of the invention in which a mechanical linkage is substituted for the switch i5 of Figs. l to 9. In this case, the actuator slide 25 abuts the lower end of a depending arm 5l suitably secured to a rock shaft 52 to which a machine controlling linkage 53 is also connected.

Figs. ll to 22 illustrate another modified form of the invention.

in this form a U-shaped supportv member S0 is provided with a set of aligned transversely extending slots S1 and 82 in the opposite sides thereof, such slots being aligned with similar slots 55 in the bottom intermediate portion of the member. A U-shaped actuator slide 56 (not inverted) is slidably mounted within the support member and is normally urged forwardly into its position shown in Fig. 13 bya tension spring 57 extending between the member` 80 and a camming lug `58 suitably riveted to the rear end of the actuator slide 56. The lug 53. serves to cam against/the plunger of a switch 59 and thus control closing of switch contacts carried therein.

Annular tumblers 60, 66a and tb are slidably mounted in slots 61, 62 and 63 formed in the sides and intermediate portions, respectively, of the slide, the tumblers being urged downwardly by the spring 57 which yieldably engages the upper edge surfaces thereof.

When the slide 56is moved to its forward position by the spring 57 the tumblers are allowed to drop through their respective slots 63, as indicated in Figs. 16, 18 and O, into locking engagement with the slots 55 in the mem- It will be noted that the bottom slot 55 associated with the tumbler is located centrally of the slide 56 as shown in Figs. i8 and 20, so that the latter tumbler will move directly downward. However, thev slot 63 and its aligned slot 55` associated with the tumbler 6tlg are located adjacent Vthe left side of the slide as shown in Figs. 18 and 19 so that as the tumblers are moved downwardly by the spring57, the tumbler 66a will also move to the left into engagement with the associated slot 81, thus requiring vertical as` well as lateral alignment of the tumbler in order to effect release. Likewise, the slots 5S and 63 associated with the tumbler 60.5 are located adjacent the right side of the slide as shown in Figs. 2i) and 2l so that this tumbler will lock in the associated slots 82 and 55.

A key 65 of cylindrical form, somewhat similar to key 30 of Fig. 6, is provided to release the lock. T he latter is arranged so that partial insertion thereof will cam the tumblers into their axially aligned positions out of engagement with notches 81, 82 and 55 in the stationary member 86 as indicated in Figs. i7, 19 and 2l. On further insertion, the tip of the key will engage an upwardly extending lug 66 of the actuator slide, thus moving the latter rearwardly and causing the camming lug 58 to actuate the switch plunger.

A detenting spring 67 (Fig. 22) is fitted in a slot 63 cut transversely through a bushing 76 forming the keyway. The spring is hooked at its ends under hooks l7i (Figs. l1 and 14) depending from the member Thus. when the keyf65 is fully inserted the spring will locate ina reduced diameter section 69, retaining the key 65 in place. i

The staggered relationship of the tumblers due to the locatingof the slots 63vand 55 in the right, the left and thecenter positions adds to the ditiiculty imposer. upon unauthorized picking of the lock. Thus iall tumblers must be lifted from their slots 55 and held in their exact central positions relative to the slide 56, as shown in Figs. 17, 19 and 2l. Any lateral misalignment in one direction or the other will result in a tumbler engaging the lateral slots, i. e., 81 or 82 in the support member 80, thus locking the actuator from movement.

Although We have described our invention in detail in its preferred embodiment and therefore have used specific terms and language herein, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive, and that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A key controlled device comprising the combination of means forming a keyway for guiding a key for longitudinal movement, a movable actuator element, a

.stationary element, said elements having a plurality of slots therein, said slots extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, a spring extending between said elements for normally maintaining said actuator element in position to align the slots therein with the slots of said stationary element, a plurality of tumblers slidable in said slots, said spring yieldably engaging said tumblers whereby to normally main* tain said tumblers conjointly in the slots of both said elements to prevent movement of said actuator element, said tumblers having holes extending therethrough, said key being engageable with the edges of said holes in said tumblers upon insertion a predetermined amount whereby to move said tumblers out of lthe slots in said stationary element, and means operable by said key upon further movement thereof for moving said actuator element.

2. A key controlled device comprising the combination of a U-shaped supporting member, means on said member forming a keyway for guiding a key for longitudinal movement, a Ushaped actuator yslide having the sides thereof slidably mounted between the sides of said supporting member, normally aligned slots in said slide and said supporting member, said slots extending transversely to the direction of movement of said slide, a plurality of liat disc-like tumblers slidable edgewise in said slots and normally resting in respective aligned slots in said slide and said supporting member whereby to'prevent movement of said slide, said tumblers having holes located concentrically therein, said key beingengageable with the edges of said holes upon insertion vin said keyway whereby to move said tumblers out of the slots in said supporting member, said key being effective thereafter to directly move said slide.

3. A key controlled device according to claim 2 comprising a tension spring extending between said slide and said member for normally maintaining the slots in said slide in alignment with the slots in said member, the side of said spring engaging the edges of said tumblers whereby to normally maintain said tumblers in respective aligned slots of said slide and said supporting member.

4. A key controlled device comprising the combination of a U-shaped supporting member, means on said member forming a keyway for guiding a longitudinally movable key, a U-shaped actuator slide nested in said supporting member and slidable therealong, slots in the vsides and bottoms of said slide and said supporting member, said slots extending transversely to the direction of movement of said slide, spring means normally maintaining said slide Y in. position to align the slots therein with the slots of said supporting member, and a plurality of thin annular tumblers slidable edgewise in said slots and normally resting in certain of the respective aligned slots in said slide and said supporting member whereby to prevent movement of said slide, said key being engageable with the edges of the openings in said tumblers upon insertion a predetermined amount in said keyway whereby to move said tumblers out of the slots in said supporting member, said slide being directly movable by said key upon further insertion of said key.

5. A key controlled device comprising the combination of a U-shaped supporting member, vmeans on one end of said supporting member'forming a keyway for guiding a longitudinally movable key, a U-shaped actuator slide having the sides thereof slidably litted between the sides of said supporting member and slidable therealong in the direction of movement of said key, said slide being inverted relative to said supporting member, slots in the sides of said slide and extending transversely to the direction of movement of said key, a plurality of thin annular tumblers slidable edgewise in respective ones or said slots, slots in the intermediate portion of said supporting member, said last-mentioned slots extending transverselyV to the direction of movement of said key, spring means Vnormally maintaining said slide in position to align the slots therein with the slots in said supporting member whereby said tumblers may tit in respective slots in said slide and said member to prevent movement of said slide, said key being engageable with the edges of the openings in said tumblers upon insertion a predetermined amount in said keyway whereby to move said tumblers out of the slots in said supporting member, and a portion of said slide extending into the path of said key and being directly movable by said key upon further insertion thereof.

6. A key controlled device comprising the combination of a U-shaped supporting member, means on said member forming a keyway for guiding a longitudinally movable key, a U-shaped actuator slide nested in said supporting member and slidable therealong, .a plurality of Sets of slots in the sides and intermediate portion of said slide, the slots in each of said sets being in alignment with each other, a plurality of setsof slots in the sides and intermediate portion of said supporting member, the slots in each of said lastmentioned sets being in alignment with each other, spring means normally maintaining lsaid slide in position to align the slots therein with the slots in said supporting member', a plurality of thin plate type annular tumblers slidable edgewise in the slots in said slide, said tumblers being alternatively engageable in the slots in one or the other of said sides of said supporting member and in the intermediate portion of said `supporting member, said key being engageable with the edges of the openings in said tumblers vupon insertion thereof a predetermined amount in said keyway whereby to move said tumblers out of the slots in said supporting member, said slide being directly movable by said key upon further insertion of said key. l

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